I agree that small groups are a potent way to spur inner and outer change. I appreciate how your post weaves together so many important threads. It reminds me of the story of consciousness raising groups among women in the early feminist movement.
Hi Brian - this article is SPOT on and in alignment with something I am trying to do right now. I'm also a regular participant of the Presencing Institute's u.lab offerings, including their current GAIA initiative. I would like to talk with you, if you are interested. What's the best way to connect?
I think I found my people! Thank you so much. I am a teacher in Burnaby, BC but have been in the role of a Community School Coordinator for several years now. I host many groups, facilitate many groups in the school district and City and feel at my very best when hosting and connecting folks. I have taken the Art of Hosting on Bowen Island with Chris, Caitlin, Amanda, Tennyson, etc and I was just in flow the whole time. I have recently read Art of Gathering by Parker (3 times!) I loved it so much and am on a journey to find more resources - and folks -- like that! Yesterday, I remembered to check in on The Art of Hosting groups on Facebook and found this. Looking so forward to being in contact with everyone here.
Welcome, Gayle! Very happy to have you here and learn together. Question: how have you described "your people"? How do you know them/us when you see them? I often talk about belonging, bridging, turning toward... but I still struggle for an overarching frame that people can connect with to let them know they've arrived; I'm curious how you self-identify and if there is common language for the communities of practice you're part of.
Hi Brian. Well, I am not sure how deep you want this answer, but I will just be myself here and see what happens. People that are interested in the Art of Hosting, and in actually hosting thoughtful, caring conversations, in which folks can be vulnerable and good listeners, build community and understanding, are people that I typically love to be around. My life (as a mom of three, as a Faculty Associate at Simon Fraser University, as a teacher, as a Community School Coordinator, and when doing my Masters' Degree in [Care and Relationships are the Foundation for Teacher Effectiveness] Leadership) has been about building empathy and the ethic of care through deepening understanding and relationships (as one of the main quotes that has steered my life and actions has been Michelle Borba's: "Empathy makes cruelty and violence unthinkable").
I just have not met many people who value this outlook? I have mostly felt that my skill set is not valued (understood?) by many? That the value of gathering, connecting, spreading warmth, conversing, building empathy, is just superfluous?
I also am someone who has, since a child, felt that I was here to help make the world a better place (I know it sounds trite, but I am hoping you also feel this way) and that we are all here for a reason. I felt most myself when working with groups to help them come to some understanding, reach a solution, learn from each other (in my community work, as well as my classroom teaching and working with student teachers at SFU). Attending the Art of Hosting was one of those times for me, too. I met so many like-minded folks who truly care, who love to think, who want to do better, who are scrupled, who want to improve the way things are, somehow.
I am so fortunate that in my position in Burnaby, I get to truly work all over the City (on committees and projects, many of which I facilitate or chair), as well as with all of the families and community partners who support our school.
I still want to keep growing and learning, though. I feel I am not yet doing exactly what I need to be doing with my strengths?
So many things connected with me when I read your post! You mentioned so many things that are really important and timely in my life. It was uncanny! Priya Parker's book, Meg Wheatley (have been reading her stuff for years), James Clear's stuff (I just signed up for his newsletter last week), and just the topics of your posts....
Anyway, I could go on and on, but who are my people? People who care, listen, connect, have altruistic goals, who like to host deep conversations, who care about joy, family, community and using this one chance we have, in the best way we can.
Thanks for sharing! Your journey resonates; one of the things I find most exciting about this moment is how many people are reaching similar conclusions: we are not alone! (An earlier post on the Axial Age tries to tease out some of the themes I find energizing: https://citizenstout.substack.com/p/welcome-to-the-2nd-axial-age). Thanks for being here.
I agree that small groups are a potent way to spur inner and outer change. I appreciate how your post weaves together so many important threads. It reminds me of the story of consciousness raising groups among women in the early feminist movement.
I wrote this two part blog called The Joy and Necessity of Micro-Collaborations, which has links to other resources for small groups. https://www.ndcollaborative.com/micro-collaborations-part-1/
Beautiful, and resonant - thanks for sharing!
Hi Brian - this article is SPOT on and in alignment with something I am trying to do right now. I'm also a regular participant of the Presencing Institute's u.lab offerings, including their current GAIA initiative. I would like to talk with you, if you are interested. What's the best way to connect?
Thanks! I just sent you an email :-)
Thank you for a thoughtful and inspiring article and weaving such richness from the community into the unfolding story.
I think I found my people! Thank you so much. I am a teacher in Burnaby, BC but have been in the role of a Community School Coordinator for several years now. I host many groups, facilitate many groups in the school district and City and feel at my very best when hosting and connecting folks. I have taken the Art of Hosting on Bowen Island with Chris, Caitlin, Amanda, Tennyson, etc and I was just in flow the whole time. I have recently read Art of Gathering by Parker (3 times!) I loved it so much and am on a journey to find more resources - and folks -- like that! Yesterday, I remembered to check in on The Art of Hosting groups on Facebook and found this. Looking so forward to being in contact with everyone here.
Welcome, Gayle! Very happy to have you here and learn together. Question: how have you described "your people"? How do you know them/us when you see them? I often talk about belonging, bridging, turning toward... but I still struggle for an overarching frame that people can connect with to let them know they've arrived; I'm curious how you self-identify and if there is common language for the communities of practice you're part of.
Hi Brian. Well, I am not sure how deep you want this answer, but I will just be myself here and see what happens. People that are interested in the Art of Hosting, and in actually hosting thoughtful, caring conversations, in which folks can be vulnerable and good listeners, build community and understanding, are people that I typically love to be around. My life (as a mom of three, as a Faculty Associate at Simon Fraser University, as a teacher, as a Community School Coordinator, and when doing my Masters' Degree in [Care and Relationships are the Foundation for Teacher Effectiveness] Leadership) has been about building empathy and the ethic of care through deepening understanding and relationships (as one of the main quotes that has steered my life and actions has been Michelle Borba's: "Empathy makes cruelty and violence unthinkable").
I just have not met many people who value this outlook? I have mostly felt that my skill set is not valued (understood?) by many? That the value of gathering, connecting, spreading warmth, conversing, building empathy, is just superfluous?
I also am someone who has, since a child, felt that I was here to help make the world a better place (I know it sounds trite, but I am hoping you also feel this way) and that we are all here for a reason. I felt most myself when working with groups to help them come to some understanding, reach a solution, learn from each other (in my community work, as well as my classroom teaching and working with student teachers at SFU). Attending the Art of Hosting was one of those times for me, too. I met so many like-minded folks who truly care, who love to think, who want to do better, who are scrupled, who want to improve the way things are, somehow.
I am so fortunate that in my position in Burnaby, I get to truly work all over the City (on committees and projects, many of which I facilitate or chair), as well as with all of the families and community partners who support our school.
I still want to keep growing and learning, though. I feel I am not yet doing exactly what I need to be doing with my strengths?
So many things connected with me when I read your post! You mentioned so many things that are really important and timely in my life. It was uncanny! Priya Parker's book, Meg Wheatley (have been reading her stuff for years), James Clear's stuff (I just signed up for his newsletter last week), and just the topics of your posts....
Anyway, I could go on and on, but who are my people? People who care, listen, connect, have altruistic goals, who like to host deep conversations, who care about joy, family, community and using this one chance we have, in the best way we can.
Thanks for sharing! Your journey resonates; one of the things I find most exciting about this moment is how many people are reaching similar conclusions: we are not alone! (An earlier post on the Axial Age tries to tease out some of the themes I find energizing: https://citizenstout.substack.com/p/welcome-to-the-2nd-axial-age). Thanks for being here.